Missing Student, Sudiksha Konanki, Seen Staggering with ‘Person of Interest’

Newly released surveillance footage captures missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki, 20, appearing unsteady as she walks arm-in-arm with Joshua Steven Riibe, a 24-year-old Iowa man identified as a “person of interest” in her disappearance.

The footage, taken near the upscale Punta Cana resort in the Dominican Republic, shows the pair walking along the beach at 4:15 a.m. on March 6, at times holding hands while Konanki’s spring-break friends walk nearby, according to Noticias SIN.

Authorities say Riibe, from Rock Rapids, Iowa, was the last person to see Konanki alive. The video shows him wearing a muscle shirt and appearing to take selfies as Konanki struggles to walk in a straight line.

According to the Dominican Republic National Police, Konanki and her friends had been at a disco at the Riu Republica Hotel when a power outage forced them outside to the beach. While most of her group left around 5:50 a.m., Konanki stayed behind with Riibe.

Local reports say Riibe has given three different accounts of what happened next. He allegedly told investigators that he entered the rough surf, then passed out drunk on the beach—only to wake up and find Konanki missing.

While Dominican authorities initially suggested she may have drowned, Konanki’s family fears she was abducted or harmed.

Authorities, including the FBI and 300 law enforcement personnel, are now scouring the area, but rough waters have complicated search efforts.

Chad Quinn, a spokesperson for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, confirmed Riibe is a person of interest but cautioned against assumptions.

“This is not, at this time, a criminal investigation, so to be clear, he is not a suspect,” Quinn stated. “He is a U.S. citizen who was vacationing in Punta Cana, not part of the group traveling with the missing person.”

Despite rumors, Dominican police have not confirmed whether Riibe’s passport has been seized.

Konanki’s loved ones remain devastated and desperate for answers. They have urged authorities to investigate thoroughly, believing there’s more to the story than an accidental drowning.